Colombian President Gustavo Petro has signed a legislation that prohibits bullfighting, putting an end to a practice that was previously recognized as part of the country’s culture.
Addressing a crowd at the bullring in Bogota, now known as the Santamaria Cultural Square, Petro celebrated the abolition of the “right to kill” animals for entertainment.
“Culture, or the justice system, cannot justify the killing of sentient beings, living creatures, for entertainment,” Petro stated, referring to a Constitutional Court decision from 2018 that allowed bullfights in areas with a tradition of the practice.
Petro also emphasized, “If we derive pleasure from killing an animal, we will also derive pleasure from killing human beings,” as he spoke to the crowd that included animal rights activists.
Supporters of the law, which was approved by congress at the end of May, chanted “No more ‘ole’!” during the legislative process.
An influencer and anti-bullfighting activist, Luana Delgado, highlighted the significance of banning bullfighting at the Bogota bullring. She expressed, “A place once filled with blood and death will now be filled with culture.”
This new nationwide legislation allows for bullrings to be repurposed as cultural venues or sports facilities.
Animal rights campaigner Jesus Merchan declared to applause, “Today, we are ending a long history of suffering.”
Effective from 2027, the law provides a transition period to convert arenas and offer alternative employment to individuals who are directly or indirectly involved in bullfighting.
Colombia now joins other Latin American countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Guatemala, and Uruguay in banning bullfighting. Bullfights continue to take place in Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela, as well as in European nations like France, Spain, and Portugal.
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